Blog | Jennifer McClure`

Networking and Relationship Building in Today’s Noisy World

We all need other people in order to help us grow! Whether you’re looking for a job, a contact, promoting a service or looking to collaborate, there are many ways to go about it. In today’s episode, Jennifer shares some thoughts and pointers on how to network by building and maintaining relationships with generosity and respect.

Back in May, Jennifer tweeted about requests that she had received to work for free, which prompted her to synthesize some thoughts on the do’s and don’ts of networking. She talks about these communications and their underlying flawed assumptions about the value of one’s time and energy, and she lays out the following common situations that can benefit from her pointers:
- Job Hunting. Whether you’re a recent graduate or looking to make a change, tapping your network for opportunities means reaching out to key individuals. Jennifer talks about some of her early missteps on her journey to becoming a speaker and entrepreneur back in episode 7 of the Impact Makers Podcast as well some of the lessons she learned in the process.
- Questions and Curiosity. You may be looking for advice, tips, or leads from established professionals or individuals that you think might help you along in your journey. In our digital age, we are often both the sender and receiver of sales communications. Whether it be through a job, a startup or personal businesses, reaching out to individuals is part of the game.
- Audience Appreciation. Many people reach out to creators to let them know that the content they are producing is enjoyed and valued. Creating a connection this way can be difficult, as creators often receive many messages from a wide range of people.
With these situations in mind, here are Jennifer’s 5 tips for reaching out and making connections:
- #1: Do Your Homework FIRST. Before you reach out, make sure you know exactly why you’re sending a message in the first place. What are your goals, what is your purpose and what specifically are you working on? Including this in your initial communication will streamline your exchange to get down to it.
- Ask yourself: “why am I reaching out to X or Y person?” Make sure that they understand why you think that they can help. Being specific in your request also simplifies things. The easier it is for them to say yes, the more likely they will do so. Jennifer tells a couple of stories about what catches her attention when people reach out to her.
- #2: Referrals from a Mutual Contact. Review your network to see if you know anyone who has a legitimate existing relationship (not just a LinkedIn connection) with the person you want to connect with. If your mutual contact is amenable to a name drop – or is willing to personally introduce you, all the better.
- #3: Emails, Voicemails and In-Person Requests. Regardless of communication medium, be clear with your question and provide very easy options for follow-up. Be flexible, willing to travel and be thankful! Show your appreciation from them taking time out their day to meet or talk with you.
- #4 Persistent and friendly follow-up. We all have busy lives. If you reach out and don’t get a response, err on the side of understanding. Who knows why they didn’t respond? For Jennifer, the maximum number of follow-up communications is 3. After that, it’s time to move on.
- #5 The Best Way to Get is to Give. Everyone wants to know that their work matters. One of the best ways to create connections is to champion the work of others. Sharing their work with your network and genuinely engaging with their content over time will help you stand out as someone who truly appreciates their efforts. You can also recommend them in a business context.
Remember, these folks have to eat too! If you’re reaching out to someone with a service or resource you want to access, offer to buy it! Expecting someone to offer for free what they regularly get paid to do isn’t very respectful of their time and energy.
There are no rules about who can learn from who. Another way to get noticed is to share what you’ve learned and what you’re working on, whether that be in a blog, on social media or in a publication.

Resources & Links:

Catalyst Sale Podcast #94 – Gender Pay Gap, Building Business Acumen, and Networking

Catalyst Sale Podcast #60 – Jennifer McClure – Disruption & Innovation in HR & Sales

Mike Simmons LinkedIn

The tweet about networking that started it all…

Impact Makers Episode 7 — How I Became A Speaker and Entrepreneur

Michael Hyatt

Amy Porterfield

Community Made podcast with Jayson Gaignard

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Written by Jennifer McClure

Leading with your Story with Mary Faulkner

When it comes to changing hearts and minds in the workplace, nothing will bring people to your podium like a powerful personal story. Today, Jennifer talks with her good friend and old colleague Mary Faulkner, the author of the widely read blog Surviving Leadership. She is currently the Director of Human Resources, Talent and Total Rewards at Denver Water.

Can you guess what Mary wanted to be as a young woman? Mary tells us a little bit about her educational and business history and how she found herself in the world of HR.
The two met in 2013 while Jennifer was working a consulting contract at the company Mary was a part of. Mary talks about the details of her career since 2013, Jennifer’s influence on her development, and her blog HR-focused blog called Surviving Leadership.
The focus of Mary’s blog isn’t just about the view from the top down; she also consistently approaches HR from an employee position and touches on a broad range of topics within the corporate landscape.
One of the themes that Mary has been writing about is fear-based leadership in the workplace. For example, fears of innovation failure, fears of internal politics, or fear of speaking one’s mind. She uses the example of the #MeToo movement and the cultures of fear that prevent people from speaking out.
What can those in leadership roles do to make space for people to speak out? Mary offers some specific suggestions for those at the top.
A deep understanding of the many idiosyncrasies of corporate leadership culture is bound to change the way one sees the workplace. Jennifer asks Mary about how her work and writing has changed her own leadership style and work relationships.
Like thousands of other impact makers, Twitter changed the game for Mary Faulkner. Jennifer asks Mary about how being connected to a globally diverse range of people has impacted her perspective and working style.
Through her social media coverage of HR conferences, Mary has been invited to cover, speak at and organize a range of events. Jennifer asks Mary about how these experiences have helped her grow her career and enhance her practice.
When it comes to laying it out for the top brass, HR departments are often on the back foot when justifying their programs. So being an HR practitioner and a consistently travelling speaker isn’t so common. Mary talks about how she balances these two parts of her career and offers some advice for conference organizers on how to get more HR practitioners on the stage.
Stage fright is no joke but there are even greater challenges to building a quality conference presentation. Mary provides some pointers on how to work your way up to the podium and the value of presenting your story.
Who are some the biggest impact makers in Mary Faulkner’s life? Mary talks about some of her leadership mentors and about the future of career.

Resources & Links:

Mary Faulkner website

Mary Faulkner LinkedIn

Mary Faulkner Twitter

Mary Faulkner Instagram

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure’s Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you’re making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let’s Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

Written by Jennifer McClure

Going Against The Flow with Claire Coder

In today’s world, getting a degree isn’t the only way to making your entrepreneurial dream a reality. Jennifer talks with Claire Coder, a 21-year-old college dropout and founder/CEO of the wildly successful Aunt Flow. Her company provides high-quality menstrual products to a variety of schools, businesses, and organizations, and donates thousands more to women in need across the country.

So, where did it all start? Claire takes us back to her high school days and tells Jennifer about the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey: starting a promotional products company at the age of 16.
Claire was destined for sales. After becoming a top seller on Etsy and having a blast running her modest company, she realized her passion lay in the entrepreneurial world.
The ultimate question for a young mind: where are you going after high school? For Claire, that question has always meant college. But knowing academia wasn’t where she would thrive, Claire kept her eyes on the horizon for any new opportunity.
Sometimes inspiration can come from those day-to-day experiences that throw a wrench in your gears. While attending a 54-hour entrepreneur hackathon weekend and realizing that the bathroom had no menstrual products whatsoever, Claire knew something could be done. And thus, Aunt Flow was born.
Why is better access to menstrual products so important? Claire drops the facts: in the United States, menstrual products are not covered by food stamps or by the SNAP and WIC programs and as a consequence 16 million women living at or below the poverty line don’t have dependable access to tampons and pads. In a woman’s lifetime, she will spend an average of $3000 dollars on tampons and pads, many of them subpar and overpriced.
After learning about how menstrual products are made with highly dangerous ingredients like chlorine bleaches, synthetic fabrics, and dyes, Claire was driven to create a sustainable and accessible alternative. Aunt Flow now manufactures 100% organic cotton tampons and pads, and sells them to businesses and companies, which they then provide to their students, guests and employees in their bathrooms and restrooms.
Every new endeavor requires sacrifices and compromise. Claire describes the contentious choice to drop out of school to start Aunt Flow, and what the first months and years of her business were like. From product sourcing, to building a website, to learning how to become an adult, Claire built up her business over two years before finally launching sales.
In 2016, where does a college dropout working 3 waitressing jobs get the kind of funding to start a company? The answer was, naturally: crowdfunding. Using her experience running crowdfunding campaigns at her marketing day job, Claire raised $25,000 to purchase Aunt Flow’s first product run.
So where did the name Aunt Flow come from? Jennifer asks Claire about the origin story of the name and how she turned an old-fashioned euphemism into a winning brand identity.
For ridiculous reasons, most people don’t like talking about menstruation, but Claire is all about speaking frankly. Jennifer asks Claire about her outspoken nature and how that has played into her life’s journey so far. Claire talks about her work as a nude model for artists, and how that experience has helped her embrace both her body and her self going forward.
Today, Aunt Flow currently serves over a hundred businesses and organizations but its beginnings were more humble. Claire talks about Aunt Flow’s early individual subscription model and how it eventually enabled the business to transition into the B2B space. Claire also describes the values that she held onto from the very beginning, when the company still operated on the subscription model: for every Aunt Flow box purchased, one was donated to a person in need in the United States.
Aunt Flow now serves some very large organizations and companies, from Fortune 500’s to major universities. Jennifer asks Claire about how she secured her biggest clients and how these large accounts enable Aunt Flow to donate tens of thousands of menstrual products a year. Last year, Aunt Flow donated 100,000 menstrual products. This year, Claire is shooting to donate half a million.
As a young woman in the business world, asking for what you want, riding out the no, and learning when and how to ask again is the not-so-secret to success. Claire fills us in on her philosophy of business and how it has enabled her company to secure great clients, as well as high-profile media attention.
When it comes to the brand, Claire is the charismatic face and voice of Aunt Flow. Claire discusses the decision to use her personal profile to push conversations about menstruation into the mainstream via CEO-focused media coverage. She also talks about the more challenging aspects of being a young business woman, and how sometimes both a combination of ageism and sexism can rear its head in both client and investor interactions.
As a young entrepreneur, what advice does Claire have for other young change makers trying to make the world a better place? Here’s her 2-part breakdown:
- Just Google it! Use the power of the information age to your advantage and don’t be afraid to research.
- Make a Big Ask. If you can’t find the right answer or person for your problem, don’t be afraid to get straight to the point.
Everyone has role models or trailblazers they look to for inspiration. Claire talks about the success of Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, as well as her advisors at Aunt Flow.
How does Claire feel about not finishing college? Despite some mild FOMO about dormitory experiences or collective school pride, Claire has no regrets. Would she recommend her path to others? Well, figuring out whether or not college is for you is a lot cheaper if you’re not in college.

Resources & Links:

ClaireCoder.com

Claire Coder LinkedIn

Claire Coder Instagram

Claire Coder Twitter

GoAuntFlow.com

Go Aunt Flow Facebook

Go Aunt Flow Instagram

Go Aunt Flow Twitter

Jeni Britton Bauer | Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure’s Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you’re making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettiman hosts a podcast called Let’s Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

Written by Jennifer McClure

Understanding your Greater Purpose with Kevin Monroe

The search for one’s true purpose in life is one of the most daunting questions we humans face – but it doesn’t have to be. Jennifer chats with Kevin Monroe, a self-described servant leader who brings his lifelong study of purpose into his work as a leadership coach and consultant, advising both individuals and companies in their search for purpose greater than themselves.

How would you describe Kevin Monroe in one word? According to him, that word is “pilgrim.” Kevin tells Jennifer a little bit about how his outlook has changed throughout his life and how getting fired from his position in the church was exactly what he needed to start the next stage of his journey.
After 10 years in telecommunications sales and marketing, and after finding out some hard truths about his long-coveted dream job, Kevin left to join a high-tech startup with some friends. Their timing wasn’t so great; as the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, the company dissolved and Kevin was brought back to that nagging question of purpose staring him in the face.
Corporate America is a beast in its own right. Uninterested in returning to the predictable machinations of another corporate position, Kevin took a hard look at what success meant for him and where true fulfillment lay on his path, ultimately moving on to the non-profit sector.
The tale of a short-lived career in the non-profit sector is unfortunately a dime a dozen. Kevin’s experience was no exception. After losing his job, the next step was a no-brainer: time to start a business. Jennifer asks Kevin about founding X Factor Consulting, LLC and the early days of being out on his own.
Unearthing your purpose isn’t just about reaching a destination at the end of a path but navigating a winding road, its direction only visible a few steps ahead. After Kevin landed some clients and got things working smoothly, the question of purpose returned. Jennifer asks Kevin about how he used to think about his purpose and how it has changed over time.
In Kevin’s view, purpose is not singular but is multidimensional and multifaceted; he talks about the importance of his family when it comes to purpose and the primacy of relationships.
The times have changed. The corporations of yesteryear are catching up to the socially minded ethos of the non-profit sector. Kevin talks about how today’s conversations around balancing profit-making and social good are in line with the thread of servant leadership that he seems to have been following all along. Jennifer asks Kevin about what servant leadership is to him.
For many doers and thinkers, the hyper-focus upon the individual leader is counterintuitive. Kevin talks about other-centered leadership, relaying a story about visiting the corporate headquarters of Chick-fil-A and the servant leadership approach of Southwest Airlines.
How does one become a servant leader? Jennifer asks Kevin if people are born as servant leaders and if one can learn to shift their way of thinking. According to Kevin, “Little things matter most. And we never know what little thing is going to matter most to whom when.” Sometimes a warm greeting and a handshake can do amazing things.
Both Kevin and Jennifer are walking proof that you can change the way you think about leadership step by step, throughout your life. Listen to them tell some stories about leadership experiences in their careers. Kevin also provides insight into the power of servant leadership and why it’s so much simpler and intuitive than it often sounds.
Between his podcast – called the Higher Purpose podcast – and his consulting and facilitation work, Kevin’s focus on purpose is driven by the importance of self-driven discovery. There is no universal training program for servant leadership because everyone’s story is different. What Kevin tries to do is create the ideal conditions for companies and organizations to connect with their own story on a deeper level in order to discover, be inspired by and effectively lead with their newfound purpose.
While Kevin mostly works with larger companies, he talks about some tools and resources for helping individuals. You can find some of these resources in the links below!
So what’s next for Kevin Monroe? Kevin gives us some details about a new interview segment on the Higher Purpose podcast called Profiles of Purpose and drops a few juicy takeaways in the form of some excellent quotes, credited and original:
- “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliott
- “Purpose thrives in community, but starves in isolation.” – Kevin Monroe

Links and Resources:

Kevin Monroe website

Kevin Monroe LinkedIn

Kevin Monroe Twitter

Kevin Monroe Facebook

Higher Purpose podcast

Purpose Manifesto

Profiles of Purpose

Mike Kim

Books (affiliate links):

Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose

Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit

Are you struggling with developing your personal brand?

You can now download Jennifer McClure’s Personal Branding Worksheet to help you ask and answer the right questions so you’re making the best impression.

Check out another trailblazing HR powerhouse!

HR expert Laurie Ruettimann hosts a podcast called Let’s Fix Work where she speaks with a diverse array of people about how to change the way we think and work for the better.

Give us a hand getting the word out!

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Written by Jennifer McClure

Playing To Your Strengths with Mary Ellen Slayter

Staying nimble and agile will take you a long way – in business and in life. Jennifer catches up with her friend Mary Ellen Slayter, pivot master and CEO of Reputation Capital Media Services, LLC, a B2B content marketing agency based out of Baton Rouge. As a successful working wife and loving mother, Mary Ellen has made a huge impact in her field and in the lives of her family, friends and community.

The life of Mary Ellen Slayter is a story like no other. Jennifer asks Mary Ellen about how she got to where she is and what she does; she gives Jennifer the lowdown on the work that her new company Reputation Capital Media Services (Rep Cap) is doing, her undergraduate days of studying soil, and tells the story of how she started her career in journalism. Mary Ellen also forwards a convincing case for why kids still need good math and algebra skills in today’s world.
After working as part-time copy editor for the financial desk of the Washington Post, Mary Ellen landed an advice column with a unique pitch. Mary Ellen gives us a look into some of the seeds of her later career that were planted with her fresh approach to the column.
To fully commit to a career change is no easy feat. Mary Ellen describes diving into her new career in journalism and talks about her early interest in the founding theories and philosophies of modern journalism.
Like many others, Mary Ellen saw the digital future of journalism coming fast. While the Post was still largely focused on print, Mary Ellen moved to the digital-savvy SmartBrief and stayed on for three years. Her life eventually took her from Washington back to Baton Rouge where she received some bad news on her daughter’s birthday that came to be a blessing in disguise.
With her future uncertain, Mary Ellen’s business idea now had ample room to be cultivated. Mary Ellen got a fateful call from Jennifer Benz of Benz Communication who didn’t call with an offer, but with a challenge.
Sometimes the first steps of a new venture can be the most daunting. Mary Ellen gives Jennifer an idea of what the first few weeks of Rep Cap looked like, how she got her first client, and how her small up-and-coming business evolved into a fully-fledged agency.
Mary Ellen considers herself a connector. If she can’t help people, she wants to get people connected with others who can. Mary Ellen and Jennifer talk about how relationships play a key role in developing a new business.
How in the world do you make HR tech, financial services and insurance services sexy? Mary Ellen talks about how her work has changed over time, from writing blog posts and running client social media to full-on digital marketing strategy consulting. She also talks about how the landscape has shifted in the last six years since Rep Cap was started.
As a marketer, what should you be focusing on? Jennifer asks Mary Ellen for her thoughts on what marketing and content managing folks should be thinking about when trying to get their business, brand or personal profile out into a changing landscape. She offers a handful of rich takeaways based on her experience and observations of emerging trends in her field.
Is a series of pivots actually just a full-on spin? Jennifer asked Mary Ellen about what Rep Cap’s work looks like now and what might be next moving forward. Mary Ellen talks about the importance of learning new things in the constantly shifting market landscape of the 21st century.
As you can tell, Mary Ellen is no stranger to cultivating new ideas, skills, knowledge, and people. Jennifer asks Mary Ellen about her progressive ideas in building a positive workplace culture at Rep Cap such as fully paid maternity leave and pay transparency.
Smashing goals is Mary Ellen’s bread and butter. Now that Rep Cap has achieved beyond what she imagined, what’s next in the pipeline? Mary Ellen talks about participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and how that helped her envision and create a 10-year plan for her business. She also talks about her plans to write a career advice book specifically for writers.
It’s safe to say, more than ever before, we are living in the age of the pivot. Jennifer asks Mary Ellen about what the future of work looks like and the importance of a willingness to learn, staying nimble, and keeping your eyes open.